Over the years I have sold quite a few homes built by Richmond Homes. Some were in Sarasota, some in Nokomis, some in Venice and some on Siesta Key. So what is the story about Richmond Homes? Well Ruth Richmond was an interior designer and a general contractor. She was born in Brooklyn New York in 1912 and she studied art and advertising in New York City. Ruth and her husband Larry built thousands of homes in Sarasota Florida and the surrounding areas from the 1950’s through the 1970’s. In 1976 one of their models was noted in “Newsweek” magazine as one of the best home values in the country. While helping her husband prepare to take the test to become a licensed general contractor in Florida, Richmond decided to take the test herself...

Despite the grim economic outlook for some industries, one sector is gaining viability — real estate. According to the 2016 Emerging Trends in Real Estate, which was released by the Urban Land Institute earlier this year, trends such as “18-hour cities” and millennial parents increasing moving from urban areas out into the suburbs signal that real estate as an industry is gaining strength every passing day in 2016. One lending officer at a large financial institution even went to far as to say that “the next 24 months look doggone good for real estate.”

These trends means that real estate is a smart place to make an investment and grow your wealth...

What a Life We Have – we are so grateful to live here with fabulous activities like Yoga on the Beach! Join in – there are sessions every morning at 8AM and 9AM and then in the evening at 7 PM Monday through Thursday and Saturday. The instructor Elin is a Certified Yoga Instructor with 40 years experience. Her goal is to provide an environment where people feel comfortable and safe to practice yoga. Increase your energy and learn how to breathe as nature intended. Elin says “Balance, Breathe, Strengthen and at the same time, Relax. Yoga brings you to your full range of motion – not pushing beyond your limits. Move the way your body is designed to move. Learn to safely move through your back, shoulder, and knee issues...

How do I get recycling bins if there aren’t any at my house or if they are in bad shape?

What goes in the red containe...

Whether you’re putting your home on the market this year or in the next five years, it is a smart decision to start building your home’s resale value now. Here are some ways to create a comfortable home while making it easier to put more money into your bank account on closing day.

Small Maintenance and Repairs

If you think that home maintenance on the weekends waste your time and energy, think again. The small chores you do around your home prevents it from losing value. Neglecting small maintenance and repairs causes 10% of your home’s value to walk out your door and slip through your windows. Most appraisers claim that homes showing little to no preventative maintenance can depreciate from $15,000 to $20,000.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Connecticut and Syracuse...

No matter if you’re in a buyer’s or seller’s market, there are a few critical steps you can take to make a smarter purchase. Since buying a home is likely the biggest single investment you will ever make, being prepared will help you make a better purchase. Here are our best tips to buying a home.

Know your buying power

What is your buying power? It is the combination of your credit-worthiness and how much you can realistically pay for a home.

First, you need to understand the hidden costs of buying a home. You will need to save not only for the down payment of your home — which is typically between 10% – 20% of the offer price — but also for any additional transaction fees, such as transfer tax, PMI, title insurance, and legal fees.

The annual celebration of high-end horsepower returns with three days of events, all to benefit United Cerebral Palsy of Southwest Florida. Friday night will be a reception at the Rectrix Aerodrome that will include luxury cars, jets and Italian motorcycles, as well as food, wine, cocktails and live music by singer/songwriter Susan Gabriel. More exotic cars will be on display on Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Sarasota, followed on Sunday by road rally and closing brunch at The Founders Golf Club

The community is invited to come see what’s new at the country’s No. 1 beach as Sarasota County hosts a free, family-friendly event at Siesta Beach from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 20.

The morning will include an opening ceremony at 9 a.m., followed by entertainment, refreshments, recreational activities, kids’ crafts, beach sports, the Mote Marine Touch Tank and more. The celebration marks the completion of Sarasota County’s $21.5 million Siesta Beach Park improvement project.

The festivities will include an opportunity for visitors to join a walking tour along the new Siesta Beach esplanade to see all of the amenities and learn more about them from guides stationed along the way. The tour begins at 10 a.m...

Despite existing-home sales dropping last November, the National Real Estate Market is primed for expansion in 2016. Here’s why. Better weather in many parts of the country resulted in an increase in single-family and multifamily home construction. Also, the population of millennial homebuyers is expected to grow in 2016. This means increased demand to help the housing market see positive gains. With unemployment steadily decreasing, orders for new durable goods increasing 3 percent, inflation staying level, and income beginning to grow, the Fed decided to raise interest rates. The rate increase signals that our economy is getting stronger...

Because your home may be your biggest investment, it’s critical to keep up-to-date. An important part of our work for our clients is to oversee details. We understand the need for accurate information. Here are some Important Tips and Dates to Remember regarding your property taxes:

November – First Week. The Sarasota County Tax Collector mails the tax bills to property owners of record.

When paying your property taxes keep these dates in mind to receive discounts for early payment.

4% discount if paid in November

3% discount if paid in December

2% discount if paid in January

1% discount if paid in February

The gross amount is due by March 31st

The county also allows you to pay your taxes in quarterly installments. To sign up for 2016, you must submit an application to the county...